The Gratitude Journal

For ages I have wanted to journal and in my own way I have. Since 2005, I have kept a kind of scrap book with favorite pictures and quotes.  I have found this useful for visioning my future and for identifying things that are important about me and where I am headed.  These scrap books have helped me transition, to kind of enter mid life if you will and all this brings.

Recently, on my travels for work, I came across a beautiful gratitude journal and I am now hooked.  I have always known gratitude to be energising and giving thanks has always been attractive to me.  From a young age, I have written notes and cards of Thank You to others and believe (in the main) I have given credit where it is due and thanks to those in my work and family who have assisted along the way.  Now, I am hooked.

"If you count all your assets, you always show a profit." 

Robert Quillen

I am amazed at how much better I feel as I reflect at the end of most days / weeks.  It helps me to focus on the people in my day and  the large and small things that I have found pleasing about the day.  I also find it keeps my mind away from focussing on the negative things (and dare I say a little self pity from time to time!)   At last I am "observing the day", rather than "thinking (or over thinking) the day."   It is great to pause and notice things and people that would not normally feature and yet are so important.

"Choosing to pay attention to what's uplifting by writing about it, and living it 'twice over', can radically improve your mood, wellbeing, self respect and trust.  It can also radically improve your relationships with other people - regardless of  whether they are friends or strangers."

Stephanie Dowrick 

There are so many ways to feel the power of gratitude, here are just a few.....

1.      3,2,1

The 3,2,1 strategy is a great way for consciously reviewing your day and practising gratitude. It helps us to see the good things in our days and even when things aren’t so great, it helps us to recognise the positive things instead of getting fixated on the negative.  So have a try.  This is the one we use in our family. Each night as you pop your head on the pillow, pause for a minute and think about 3 things that you are grateful for from your day, 2 things that you liked about your day and then 1 thing that you would like to do better next time.  So, use this one or make up one of your own using the 3,2,1 method.

2. Three Things I am Grateful For

 At the end of each day, thinnk back over the day and identify and write about three things that you are grateful for today.

3. People I Meet

 Every single person who comes into your life impacts on you in some way.  This isn't always obvious.  Make a list of people who are important to you and jot down why.  Keep adding to this list.

4. Thank You Note / Gifts

 Take a minute to write a thank you note or give a gift. Or maybe it's a phone call or a card.

5. Relish in the Small Things

Take time to smell the roses, inhale the aroma of great coffee, freshly mowed grass or your favorite perfume etc.  And give thanks for the feeling this gives you. 

So, now, it's over to you.  Find time in your day / week / life to pause and review and reflect and acknowledge things that you may currently take for granted.  Make them a focus and relive the positive feelings around this moment.   There is something very special about bringing your focus to the here and now. I for one am experiencing increased contentment as a result.  Afterall, a life taken for granted would have to be a life not lived.

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others."

Cicero